Passion Fruit

[phibunmike]

Hi,

I have a small courtyard (4m x 8m), which will ultimately have a pergola roof. My intention is that this roof will carry creeping plants of some sort, and with this idea in mind I recently bought a couple of grape vines at a local agricultural show.

I am not sure that the vines will thrive in my area (they don't look very happy), and recently a friend suggested passion fruit as an alternative. Where he is (but that is in Indonesia) they thrive, and form a quick climbing and attractive canopy.

My questions are:

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about Passion fruit in Isaan (near Ubon Ratchathani)?

What is the Thai name and where can I buy them? Can I propagate from the seeds of supermarket fruit (which I can buy in Singapore if I need to) ?

Any other suggestions for "vine" like plants on a pergola? The roof will get a bit of partial shade around midday but otherwise will be in full sun. I intend planting in large pots on a tiled floor.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

P.S. Sorry if this is more of a gardening question than an agricultural one, but I reckon you chaps will know the answers :-)

edit> typo

Edited May 7, 2007 by phibunmike

[BambinA]

What is the Thai name and where can I buy them? Can I propagate from the seeds of supermarket fruit (which I can buy in Singapore if I need to) ?

Thai name = กะทกรกฝรั่ง (Ka tok rok farang ) or เสาวรส (Sow wa rot).

I find several sites that explains how to plant Passion Fruit but it is in TH version.

such as http://www.eto.ku.ac.th/neweto/e-book/plan...ruit/fruit4.pdf

(from Kasetsart University)

Edited May 7, 2007 by BambinA

[phibunmike]

What is the Thai name and where can I buy them? Can I propagate from the seeds of supermarket fruit (which I can buy in Singapore if I need to) ?

Thai name = กะทกรกฝรั่ง (Ka tok rok farang ) or เสาวรส (Sow wa rot).

I find several sites that explains how to plant Passion Fruit but it is in TH version.

such as http://www.eto.ku.ac.th/neweto/e-book/plan...ruit/fruit4.pdf

(from Kasetsart University)

Thanks Bambi, as usual you are quick to provide great information ! I just wish my Thai was good enough to read it, but the pictures are useful and my better half can read it. Thanks :-)

[JungleBiker]

Hi Phibun Mike,

Passion fruit is easy to grow, I have some in my garden here in Khon Kaen, but it has no fruit at the moment. I think you would need to grow the large yellow fruited type which is used for making juice/jams. The smaller fruited purple type that can be eaten fresh prefers cooler tropical highland locations.

However, I wouldn't grow passion fruit if I was you. It grows fast like a weed, so would need regular pruning and then the plants will probably look a mess in a couple of years and perhaps die after three years.

There are lots of ornamental climbing plants available in local plant shops. I would suggest a ylang-ylang vine (English name), Artabotrys hexapetalus (Latin/scientific name), "karawaek" การเวก (Thai name). It's takes a while to get going, but I think it looks nicer than a passion fruit vine in terms of its leaves and it has flowers that are not very showy but smell great in the evening. I have one of these in my garden too.

It likes a well draining organic soil, so make sure you put some good compost in your pots (the type you can buy in bags), not just regular soil.

A handy book to get is "Plant Materials in Thailand" by Uamporn Veesommai and Thaya Janjittikul available from Se-ed bookshops. Costs 1,500 baht but you can get it cheaper by buying the Se-ed membership card. This book will help you identify plants and know there English and Thai names. You can then use the English name to find out more about the plants using an English language plant book or the Internet.

Good luck,

JB.

[JungleBiker]

I recently bought a couple of grape vines at a local agricultural show.

I am not sure that the vines will thrive in my area (they don't look very happy),

I don't think grapes are easy to grow in the tropics without either a plastic roof to keep the rain off or lots of fungicide sprays.

[frikkiedeboer]

Hi,

I have a small courtyard (4m x 8m), which will ultimately have a pergola roof. My intention is that this roof will carry creeping plants of some sort, and with this idea in mind I recently bought a couple of grape vines at a local agricultural show.

I am not sure that the vines will thrive in my area (they don't look very happy), and recently a friend suggested passion fruit as an alternative. Where he is (but that is in Indonesia) they thrive, and form a quick climbing and attractive canopy.

My questions are:

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about Passion fruit in Isaan (near Ubon Ratchathani)?

What is the Thai name and where can I buy them? Can I propagate from the seeds of supermarket fruit (which I can buy in Singapore if I need to) ?

Any other suggestions for "vine" like plants on a pergola? The roof will get a bit of partial shade around midday but otherwise will be in full sun. I intend planting in large pots on a tiled floor.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

P.S. Sorry if this is more of a gardening question than an agricultural one, but I reckon you chaps will know the answers :-)

edit> typo

the stuff grows like hel_l in isaan. i got a fruit from one of the thais (most of them didnt know what it was, but the old lady and her family had a huge vine and they ate the fruit green and sour as hel_l!) i really didnt think it would grow, as all i could get was one unripe fruit. simply cut it in half and threw the pips on a patch of soft soil and watered it in ,and every pip germinated. they seem to like full sun, and i must admit i neglected them badly after the plants reached about six inches high, but they all thrived. i have never seen passionfruit the size of the fruit produced in thailand- i would not be lying if i told you that some of them were the size of a decent apple! dont think that there is much of a market for it in thailand, but there could be export opportunities, and by the way, the vines produced all year round.

good luck

frikkie

oh, if you cant find any to plant, i can put you onto a friend of mine who has a few vines and maybe he could let you have a few.-he is near to korat (nakon rachassima) but i am sure he could dry and post you some seeds. email me if i can help

[snawa]

Great site! Can anyone suggest where I can buy some grape vine cuttings? We're in the dryer Nong Khai area. We have some rubber land but I'd like to try grapes as well - have grown them in the dyer parts of Western Australia, so I think the Grenache or Spanish types might have a better chance in Isaan. I know grapes are grown in the hills out of Bangkok but are more the cooler Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz types I think.

thanks for any assistance.

I recently bought a couple of grape vines at a local agricultural show.

I am not sure that the vines will thrive in my area (they don't look very happy),

I don't think grapes are easy to grow in the tropics without either a plastic roof to keep the rain off or lots of fungicide sprays.

[Maizefarmer]

I tried - for decraotive purposes - 3 vines I purchased from Khao Yai Winery (check the web -they have a website). Each vine was in a 10 litre plastic pale and cost Baht 490. I got them because I was assured they would be fine for chalky soil (which is what I have around the house). 2 lasted for about 2 years then the goats got hold of them. The 3rd is fine - but its growing real slow and the grapes are as bitter as hel_l!

There is also a winery in Loei somewhere - I haven't a clue, but I know it exists. That may be a better choice as they are likely to have a varity that is more suited to the North and North Eastern area's.

Have fun

MF

[stickyb]

A few months ago i found a place in Chatachuck market selling grape vines, they had 3 varieties; red, white and muscat. i bought 3 of the muscat for 300Baht, and so far they have grown about 4 feet up the side of the house. Seem to be happy, but will have to wait for the fruit!

[JungleBiker]

Great site! Can anyone suggest where I can buy some grape vine cuttings? We're in the dryer Nong Khai area. We have some rubber land but I'd like to try grapes as well - have grown them in the dyer parts of Western Australia, so I think the Grenache or Spanish types might have a better chance in Isaan. I know grapes are grown in the hills out of Bangkok but are more the cooler Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz types I think.

thanks for any assistance.

I recently bought a couple of grape vines at a local agricultural show.

I am not sure that the vines will thrive in my area (they don't look very happy),

I don't think grapes are easy to grow in the tropics without either a plastic roof to keep the rain off or lots of fungicide sprays.

Hi Grape Lovers,

There is a small grape farm along the road from Khon Kaen to Chumpae (not sure how many kms) on the left side going west. They grow under plastic shelters. The vineyard in Loei (CHateau du Loei I think) belongs to Italian-Thai and it is in the Phu Rua area. They also have an essential oil extraction plant. It uses a technology based on the liquid used in air conditioners and invented by a British scientist Dr Peter Wilde (he has a share in the Loei venture); he used to produce rose oil for Princess Diana. The plant in Loei also produces rose oil and and other essential oils (i.e. stuff used in perfumes, etc).

JB

[maidu]

A few months ago i found a place in Chatachuck market selling grape vines, they had 3 varieties; red, white and muscat. i bought 3 of the muscat for 300Baht, and so far they have grown about 4 feet up the side of the house. Seem to be happy, but will have to wait for the fruit!

I know this is an old thread. But if anyone knows how I might get some grape starts, particularly muscat, let me know, thanks. I'm in norternmost Thailand, where it gets near freezing each Dec and Jan.

[mo99]

A few months ago i found a place in Chatachuck market selling grape vines, they had 3 varieties; red, white and muscat. i bought 3 of the muscat for 300Baht, and so far they have grown about 4 feet up the side of the house. Seem to be happy, but will have to wait for the fruit!

I know this is an old thread. But if anyone knows how I might get some grape starts, particularly muscat, let me know, thanks. I'm in norternmost Thailand, where it gets near freezing each Dec and Jan.

Suggest the mods start a different thread on grapes.... I was looking to read about Passion fruit here